Manage Practices Like a Pro

Welcome to the detailed guide on how to manage practices with the SPOTS app. Follow these steps to create and run effective practice sessions.

1. Using the AI Assistant

The AI Assistant in the SPOTS app helps you quickly create practice plans with minimal effort. Here's how to use it:

  1. Click the "AI Assistant Coach" button in the app.
  2. A modal will appear with several options:
    • Enter a practice description in the provided text area. This description will be used to generate your practice plan.
    • Alternatively, you can use speech recognition to fill the text area. Simply click the microphone icon and start speaking. The app will transcribe your words into the text area.
    • You can also attach a photo to use for creating the practice plan. Click the "Attach Photo" button and select an image from your device.
  3. Once you have entered the description and attached any photos, click the "Create Practice Plan" button.
  4. The AI Assistant will automatically generate a practice plan based on the description you provided.

2. Starting a Quick Practice

Need to get started quickly without setting up detailed drills? SPOTS makes it easy:

  1. Go to the "Practices" tab in the app.
  2. Tap the "Start Practice" button.
  3. A quick practice session will begin with a few pre-added drills.
  4. These drills split your squad into a number of teams, without predefined target scores or timers.
  5. Set the number of players for that session
  6. Configure other devices, if necessary
  7. Tap on "Run" on the drill you want to start.
  8. It’s a great way to get started with minimal setup!

3. Creating Custom Drills

Drills are the foundation of your practice sessions. To create a drill, follow these simple steps:

  1. Open the SPOTS app and tap the "My Drills" tab at the bottom of the screen.
  2. Tap the Plus (+) button to create a new drill.
  3. A form will appear where you need to:
    • Name your drill so you can easily identify it later.
    • Split your players by either selecting the number of teams or the number of players per team.
    • Set a timer for how long the drill should last (optional).
    • Set a target score if the drill is score-based (optional).
    • Choose a goal and emphasis that will be shown on the practice scoreboard during the drill (e.g., passing, defense).
    • Add tags to organize your drills (e.g., "shooting," "defense," "conditioning"). This makes it easier to find drills later.
  4. Once all fields are filled, tap "Save" to store your drill.
  5. Your new drill will now appear in the list of drills under "My Drills".
  6. If you need to edit or copy a drill:
    • Swipe right on the drill for the Copy option.
    • Swipe left for the Delete option.

4. Creating and Managing Practice Plans

Practice plans help you organize multiple drills into one cohesive practice. Here's how to set up a practice plan:

  1. Go to the "Practice" tab in the app.
  2. To create a plan, tap "Create Plan Template".
  3. In the template creation screen:
    • Enter a name for your plan (e.g., "Shooting Day" or "Defense Training").
    • Add drills to your plan by selecting them from the list of your custom drills.
    • Optionally, add the name of the coach who will lead the practice. This helps if multiple coaches use the same app.
    • Add tags (e.g., "conditioning," "defense," "tactics") to organize and find plans more easily.
  4. Once your plan is complete, tap "Save". It will now be stored in the list of plans under "Practice".
  5. To start a practice from a saved plan, tap the plan in the list.

5. Adding Practice Squads

Before running a practice, you need to set up your squads. Here's how:

  1. Go to the "Practice" tab in the app.
  2. Tap the Squads see the list of squads.
  3. Tap the Create Squad button.
  4. Enter a name for your squad (e.g., "Varsity Team" or "Junior Squad").
  5. Then add player names to the squad. This is useful for tracking individual performance during drills.
  6. Your squad will now appear in the list of squads under "Squads".

6. Running Drills During Practice

Once you've created a practice plan, you can run your drills using SPOTS. Here's how:

  1. Find your plan in the "Practice" tab.
  2. Tap the plan to open it.
  3. On the Practice Prepare Screen, you'll see a list of drills in your plan.
  4. Select the number of players for that session
  5. Configure other devices, if necessary
  6. Select a squad for the practice session
  7. Tap the "Run" button next to a drill to start it. You will be taken to the coach's screen.
  8. During the drill you have two segments on your page:
    1. The Timer & Team Stats will allow you to:
      • Start and stop the timer as needed.
      • Track each team’s score and update it in real-time.
      • Reset the score if necessary.
    3. The Player Stats will allow you to:
      • Assign players from your squad to teams for each drill.
      • Track individual player & team score during the drill.
    • The Practice Scoreboard Display will show:
      • Team names and colors.
      • Target score for the drill (if applicable).
      • A progress bar showing which team is closest to reaching the target score.
    • The Player Stats Display will show:
      • Player names and scores.
      • Team names and scores.
    • Once a drill is finished, return to the Practice Prepare Screen to choose another drill to run.

    7. Viewing Practice History

    After each practice, the app automatically saves your practice and drill data. Here’s how you can access your history:

    1. Go to the "Past Practices" tab in the SPOTS app.
    2. There, you will see a list of all your previous practices. Use the search or filter to find a specific practice.
    3. Tap on a practice to view detailed stats, including:
      • The duration of the practice and each drill.
      • The scores and performance for each drill.

    8. Generating Practice Reports

    Want to measure practice performance for your players and drills?

    1. Go to the "Practices" tab in the SPOTS app.
    2. Tap on the History segment.
    3. Tap the Get Report button.
    4. Select the range of dates you want to include in the report.
    5. Tap the Confirm button.
    6. The app will generate a report based on the selected date range.
    7. The report will include:
      • Practice date and duration.
      • Drill names, durations, and scores.
      • Player names and individual performance stats.
    8. You will receive the report on your email.

    Additional Tips

    • If you have a drill or plan that works really well, make sure to favorite it by tapping the heart icon next to the drill or plan in the list. This allows for quick access in future practices.
    • You can always edit, copy, or delete drills and practice plans as needed. Just swipe left or right in the list view.
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